Sunday, 26 April 2015

Brand Loyalty & Bilingualism

Brand loyalty seems to affect motorcyclists more than most. Even when they don't work, motorcycle riders are partial to their rides in a way that owners of other modes of transport aren't. With that in mind I just completely ignored my Kawasaki only motorcycle history to this point and just picked up a bike for my son: a Yamaha PW80. I guess we're now officially bilingual.

It needs a cleanup and some TLC, but the bike is straight and solid. Once I've got it sorted we'll be practising circles on the dead end road out front of our place.They were asking $800, but rather than start there I asked what they were asking. Since the Mom had put it up for sale and she wasn't talking to me, it was suddenly $700. I suggested $600, they went with $675. For a seldom used, nicely stored 2004 Yamaha PW80, I think I came out ahead. I could sell it tomorrow for a couple of hundred more than I got it.I'm still looking for something off-road for me to head out on with Max. If I had a mint to throw at it I'd go pick up a late model DRZ-400 or a KLX-250, but I don't. I'm hoping for a an older enduro bike, but sub 500cc; they don't come up often. This is going to be a primarily off-road machine, so lugging a 600+cc 'adventure' bike on the trails isn't a thrilling prospect. A big enough for me but light off-road machine is the goal.I'm going to take Max out to the Junior Red Riders course early this summer, then I'm going to make as many trips to Bobcageon as I can manage to get us some time on two wheels together.Getting into the PW80 was an easy prospect. The seat pops off with a couple of nuts under the fender and the tank with a couple of bolts. I'm not sure if two stroke oil can go off so I left it as is, but I emptied the gas tank and put in new gas (the former owner guessed the gas was at least a couple of years old).

I got it started and running smoothly and took it for a run around the circle we live on. It took off like a scalded rabbit! I could barely hang on. The only issue is a broken exhaust. I'm hoping our metal shop genius at school can sort it out tomorrow. With a tight exhaust we'll be off to the trails!Brand loyalty did play a part in this. Another bike we went to go see was a Baja 90cc dirt bike. It looked pretty cobbled together and the fact that it was a Chinese bike gave me the willies. I might not be a Kawasaki or nothing guy, but I know better than to buy a dodgy, Chinese knockoff.

About Tim

An art student who became a millwright and computer technician before going back to school for English & philosophy degrees. Now a computer technology teacher, digital media maker, avid motorbike rider & UAV pilot. Always looking for a more perfect union between man and machine.